Curb credit card spending with a jar of peanut butter

Carrying a balance on your credit card can put you in a sticky situation. Paying all that interest isn’t exactly peanuts, and dealing with credit card bills every month can leave you feeling roasted.

You know what’s nuts? We keep spending. Sure, credit card companies are crafty at finding ways to get you to pay with plastic. Reward programs, cash back gifts, and zero balance transfers are all lip smacking offers designed to get into your psyche and entice you to tap credit.

It’s time to stop being shell-shocked by these trickster ways.

Want to put a lid on your credit card spending? I have a smooth (or crunchy) solution to this gobsmacking problem.

25 Comments

I’m a big proponent of using credit cards and paying them of every month to earn the rewards. But, this is a hilarious and no doubt effective way for people who have trouble with overspending to get rid of the temptation.

Similar to the freezing your credit cards in a bowl of water trick, but with more panache!

Hilarious!
I’ve heard of freezing credit cards, but never gooing them over. I think this may work very well for me since I detest peanut butter :-)…

Bea
October 4, 2011 at 9:14 am

I did the same with an empty PB jar and ice! Ha ha ha! When I did need a card for a major car repair, I dug thru the freezer, got the jar, and let it thaw overnight. It was there when I needed a card, but otherwise I keep them ON ICE!
PB, this is too too funny! Dollar store PB would save 98 cents – ha ha ha!! I loved the time it took you to stage the photos, collect junk cards, make an additional sandwich with some very serious amounts of jam, make a funny face in the PB! I love it all. A+ for the day! I needed a financial related laugh today.
I’m not a fan of closing the cards out, I’ve been told it improves your credit score to have them open (amt of credit avail to you high) while keeping your balance nil. Thanks Kerry. You rock. As always.

Kelly
October 4, 2011 at 11:40 am

I keep my credit limit low and I refused the “Cash Back” feature (which, I think is the worst reason why people run up debt.) 🙂 🙂 🙂

I use cash as much as possible to stay away from paying too much in my credit card.

Matt
October 4, 2011 at 6:59 pm

Great post! Thankfully my wife and I only have one card we use and it is paid off in full every two weeks, but I wish I had done this when I was younger. I like the method of cutting them up better. One card only, and make it sacred!

Kelly
October 5, 2011 at 12:08 am

That’s true, Bea – having credit in good standing improves AAA rating. Me and my Spouse have separate credit card accounts from two different banks and we pay off our balances every month. (We have a mutual GIC that we’ve been feeding for years for emergencies – ie, a new appliance.)

$60. a month into one can really add up for an emergency nest egg and the interest is good. (Although if you have to withdraw on one, you do lose the interest… 🙁

I got really annoyed when I had to pay a Visa balance for $2.04 once – thank goodness for online banking, so I didn’t have to cut a check and stamp.

We store our card in an empty jar/ice block in the freezer, which we use intermittently for expenses we can immediately pay off.

We also use a credit union for banking that gives us cashback for points earned on our debit card, rather than a pesky points credit card system that offers more temptation to outspend than real rewards.

I think this is a wonderful idea. I am going to us it as I tend to overboard at times. Thank you.

K'Chelle
October 16, 2011 at 5:18 pm

I would be one of the people who would go through the trouble of digging through the gooey mess 🙁

Pat
October 17, 2011 at 1:37 pm

I have tried it. I know that I am not going to dig into that messy peanut butter just to get the credit card! (I hope). Wish me luck. I really need to stop using it for a while.

Drmchsr66
November 2, 2011 at 8:47 am

I have not heard of c.c. on ice or this funny idea of c.c. in p.b.

I do however keep all my cards with me and active because they serve a purpose which is a financial rescue should something go wrong (like a car being towed etc) I do however write on the card: DNU for Do Not Use or DEBT FREE to remind myself that using it does not lead to be being debt free.

Cash is king. Nothing beats it. It’s faster in the checkout and I don’t have to remember its pin.

Drmchsr66

Melanie
January 26, 2012 at 8:33 pm

I like this idea better than the “on ice” as if you really want the iced cards you just need some hot water… if you put the cards in the PB AND in the freezer you’ve got a tougher time to get it out. LOL

[…] and freeze it. Or try this trick, which is my personal favorite from blogger Squawkfox: Put the card in peanut butter. That creates one really messy card that you won’t want to put in your wallet. […]